Today in Music History: Queen released "Killer Queen"
February 08, 2016
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, Queen released "Killer Queen" which went on to become their first hit single in the U.S., later peaking at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Written by lead singer and pianist Freddie Mercury, it was featured on their third album Sheer Heart Attack and later appeared on the band's first compilation album, Greatest Hits. Besides using his grand piano like he normally did, Mercury overdubbed the song with an upright piano to give the track a vaudeville sound.
Also, Today In:
1969 - TCB by The Supremes with Temptations went to No. 1 on the US album chart.
1971 - Frank Zappa was forced to cancel a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall after venue officials deemed Zappa's classical opus "200 Motels" to be obscene and refuse to allow its performance.
1973 - Max Yasgur died of a heart attack at age 53. He was the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.
1975 - Bob Dylan went No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with his 15th studio album Blood On The Tracks, his second U.S. No. 1 album.
1981 - R.E.M. held their first recording sessions at Bombay Studios in Smyrna, GA. Some of the songs recorded included their debut single "Radio Free Europe" which was released the following July on local Hib-Tone Records, which pressed 1,000 copies.
1994 - Oasis was forced to cancel their first foreign tour after they were deported from Holland. The band were involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.
2005 - Keith Knudsen, drummer for The Doobie Brothers died of chronic pneumonia in Kentfield, CA. He was 56 years old.
Birthdays:
Vince Neil, singer for Motley Crue, is 55 today.
Guy Man (Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo), French electronic musician with Daft Punk, is 42 today.
Jet guitarist Cameron Muncey is 36 today.
Former Paramore bassist Jeremy Davis is 31 today.